Classic Northumberland & Hadrian's Wall - Hiking
Country
England
Region
Northumberland
Theme
Classic
6
Days
5
Nights
Accommodation
3* / 4*
Walking England’s Wild Borderlands.
This journey explores England’s far north, where shifting tides, wide skies and centuries of history shape every step. Beginning on the Northumberland coast, the programme moves between sacred islands, working harbours and vast beaches before turning inland to follow the line of Hadrian’s Wall across open country.
Walking days are balanced with time inside remarkable historic sites. Castles perched above sand dunes, Roman forts preserved beneath the soil and market towns shaped by border life. It is a route that reveals how landscape and history have always worked together here, sometimes quietly, sometimes dramatically.
Highlights
- Walking on Holy Island, reached across the tidal causeway
- Coastal routes from Craster to Dunstanburgh Castle
- Private touring of Bamburgh Castle’s state rooms
- Visit to Cragside, the world’s first house powered by hydroelectricity
- Exploring Hadrian’s Wall, including Vindolanda
- Two contrasting bases, coastal Northumberland and historic Hexham
Handpicked Accommodation
The Beaumont, Hexham
Occupying an elegant 19th century townhouse near Hexham Abbey, The Beaumont blends heritage architecture with thoughtful modern touches.
Why we chose it
Hexham is an ideal base for Hadrian’s Wall, and The Beaumont places guests right at the heart of the town’s historic fabric.
Eshott Hall, Alnwick
Set within landscaped parkland, Eshott Hall is a Georgian country house with a long history as a private estate before becoming a refined small hotel.
Why we chose it
Its rural setting offers genuine quiet while remaining well placed for the coast, castles and island crossings.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Newcastle to Chillingham Castle
Rendezvous with your guide at Newcastle railway station and transfer north into the rolling countryside of Northumberland. The afternoon is spent at Chillingham Castle, long associated with border warfare and centuries of conflict between England and Scotland. Often described as Britain’s most haunted castle, Chillingham has a recorded history stretching back to the 12th century and served as a strategic stronghold during repeated invasions. Exploring its rooms and grounds offers a vivid introduction to the region’s layered past. The day concludes with dinner together at the hotel.
Day 2 – Holy Island and Bamburgh
Travel to Holy Island, also known as Lindisfarne, walking across the tidal causeway to reach it, conditions permitting. This route has been used for centuries by pilgrims visiting the site where St Cuthbert established a monastery in AD 635, making it one of the most important early centres of Christianity in England.
In the afternoon, continue south to Bamburgh Castle for a guided visit of the state rooms. The fortress rises dramatically above the dunes and was once the seat of the Kings of Northumbria. Afterwards, walk along the sand dunes and wide beach below, where castle, sea and sky form a striking coastal panorama.
Day 3 – Craster to Dunstanburgh and Alnwick
Begin the day in Craster, a small fishing village famed for its smoked kippers. The village has been smoking herring in traditional oak-fired kilns for well over a century, and the scent still drifts through the harbour on calm days.
Set out on a circular coastal walk towards Dunstanburgh Castle, its ruins standing stark against the sea. Built in the 14th century, the castle was as much a statement of power as a defensive structure. Lunch is enjoyed at the Jolly Fisherman, before returning to Alnwick for free time. Optional short walks allow further exploration of the town and surrounding parkland.
Day 4 – Cragside and Hexham
Leaving the coast behind, travel inland towards Hadrian’s Wall country. The morning is spent at Cragside House, an extraordinary Victorian home built by industrialist William Armstrong. It became the first house in the world to be powered by hydroelectricity, using water drawn from the surrounding lakes and moorland.
In the afternoon, arrive in Hexham. There is time to explore Hexham Abbey, founded as a Saxon monastery in the 7th century, followed by a gentle walk along the River Tyne. The river path reveals a quieter side of the town and hints at the role waterways have played in shaping this landscape.
Day 5 – Hadrian’s Wall and Vindolanda
Today is dedicated to Hadrian’s Wall, the northern frontier of the Roman Empire. Built in AD 122, the wall once stretched from coast to coast, marking the edge of Roman rule in Britain.
Visit Vindolanda, a Roman fort and settlement where extraordinary archaeological finds, including writing tablets and everyday objects, continue to emerge. Walk along well-preserved sections of the wall, passing Sycamore Gap, where (sadly felled) tree was once framed by the rolling crags. Return to Hexham for a farewell dinner together.
Day 6 – Departure
After breakfast, the tour comes to an end.
Itinerary Designer
From pilgrims’ footsteps to Roman frontiers, Northumberland has a storied history. But these days, with the lowest population density of all English counties, this is a trip to escape the crowds.
Will
Featured Experience
Walking Hadrian’s Wall at Vindolanda
Walking beside the excavated fort and along the surviving wall brings daily Roman life into sharp focus, letters, boots and tools preserved where they were lost nearly two millennia ago